Under The Influence #17: Alienator on “Houdini” by Melvins!

“Houdini” marked the major label debut for Melvins in 1993 with Atlantic Records taking advantage of the fan base they had built up with their previous Boner Records independent release “Lysol” the year before. Commercially their biggest success and arguably their most accessible release, it is also an album that has a backstory associated with it that would make a good book. Nirvana Mastermind Kurt Cobain gets a co-production credit alongside GGGarth and the band themselves though despite recording guitar work for one cut and percussion for another, his total input is said to be less than one might have thought. Similarly, bassist Lorax didn’t actually record any bass on the album itself despite credit in the liner notes. But none of that really matters. Melvins appeal is the riffs that cross over Sludge, Doom and Grunge Metal in a fashion which saw “We Reach: The Music of The Melvins” appear via Fractured Transmitter Records that has everyone from Dillinger Escape Plan to Mastodon and Strapping Young Lad to name but a few pay homage to their heroes.